Dan Rather Needs Our Support - I wrote him and got this e mail back

[Pallas180]

write him at [e-mail]



Dear Ms. Pallas,
Thank you for taking the time to write. Your support is appreciated. As you can imagine, we've been inundated with negative emails. It's refreshing to hear from a viewer such as yourself. We strive for the highest level of journalistic integrity and will continue to do so, no matter what the cost. A free society demands free, unmuzzled media expression.


CBS Evening News

-----Original Message-----

Sent: Saturday, September 11, 2004 2:38 PM
To: CND Evening News
Subject: Dan Rather is Heroic


Dear Mr. Rather,

What you have done is not only brave but patriotic. It's time the media in this country stopped acting as a propaganda arm of the
cabal in the White House and started telling
truth and facts to the American people.

These facts about AWOL should have come out
strongly while he was running before the election of 2000 instead of the media acting as cheerleaders for him and for the phony Iraq "imminent danger" war . It should be made clear that the Iraq war declared by this administration had nothing to do with the attack on the WTC.

Because of the propaganda of the WH which the media repeated, 60% of the American people who only get their news from tv, believe
Iraq was responsible for the attack on the WTC.

Please continue to do real and honest reporting.
You seem to be the only one.

Thank you again for your heroic bravery.

Anna Pallas
Florida

[JSJ]

1. cbs & rather should get e-mail after e-mail from us nt

[saracat]

2. I wrote .

CBS and Rather need to be media blasted!

[KT2000]

3. Yes - we need to remember

to support those willing to face the barrage from the RW for telling the truth.

Thanks for posting this and you wrote a good letter.

I sent one off too.

[obiwan]

65. Me too.

[calimary]

81. Positive reinforcement is crucial! You KNOW they're getting

truckloads of negative input.

By the way - Welcome to DU, obiwan!

[shooga]

89. This is the document Dan Rather is waiting for:

http://www.geocities.com/jdombrasqu/AWOL2.html

[progdonkey]

4. just sent one off

[calimary]

100. Good work!

Kick!

[LibertyorDeath]

5. Done!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=2336716

:)

[EST]

6. I totally agree-

I just fired off another one. Strange as it seems, CBS begins to look more and more like the only national source of journalistic integrity left in the US.
Sadly, we are witnessing some of the most important and the most devastating history of all time, folks. Do what you can to support them and let them know.

[Lerkfish]

24. oddly, the only other journalistic integrity: the Daily Show.

that's bizarro world when a fake news show is doing a better job than nearly every other news organization.

[VoteJohn04_com]

41. You can always count on the Daily Show

Daily Show has always been "fake" only in the way that they
present the news. They look at it in the way I and most my
friends do which makes it the most entertaining and informational
piece of News Reporting available to younger people! :)

Plus, they don't pull any punches, they talk about both
sides of the aisle and just have fun with their jobs!

I wish we could all be so lucky.
:)

[LibertyorDeath]

7. Can send here also

CBS) If you would like to submit a letter to 60 Minutes (Weeknight Edition), just send us an emailto:[e-mail] and include the headline of the article you are responding to in the subject heading. Letters selected to appear on our Web site may be edited for length, grammar and spelling.

[Mr_Scarecrow]

8. I just sent this

Dan Rather is doing a great job and should be commended. It is disgusting to see the right-wing media attempting to discredit CBS News. Their attacks are a feeble attempt to distract the populace from the leadership gap in the White House.
If only Robert Novak (who urged CBS to reveal its sources) were more forthcoming about his own, we might know who committed the act of treason that revealed the identity of a secret agent.
Keep up the great work!

[LibertyorDeath]

9. Hi Pallas sent this a few days ago

Subject:Bush was arrested in 1972
Date:11/09/2004 9:49 PM
From:xxxxxxxxxxx
To:[e-mail]
To CBS News,
The information below is easy to find. I do not have the resources to prove or disprove its veracity.
This I do know Bush admits doing community service with Project P.U.L.L in Houston in 1972.
The question is why was George W. Bush at Project P.U.L.L. He has no record of charitable service prior to his time spent there & none subsequent.. 12 months of charitable community service at a Community Center in Houston's dirt-poor Third Ward is out of character with the known facts of this mans behavior & personality in 1972.

Bush was arrested in 1972 for cocaine possession, and taken to Harris County Jail, but avoided jail or formal charges through an informal diversion plan involving community service with Project P.U.L.L., an inner city Houston program for troubled youths at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Houston's dirt-poor Third Ward. His record was expunged with help from his family's political connections.

That year certainly is out of character with the rest of Bush Jr.'s life. Before and after 1972, he was a rich, hard drinking playboy. Suddenly, and only that one time in his life, he worked for a liberal charity in an inner city ghetto. As soon as the year was over, he resumed his previous pattern and has done no charity work since.

Sincerely

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/1999/10/18/cocaine /

http://www.realchange.org/bushjr.htm

http://www.tompaine.com/feature.cfm/ID/3671

http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=george+w+b...

[Sugarbleus]

10. Many Kudos to you for writing. I wrote a few days ago....

Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to send another one. Dan Rather is a seasoned, veteran, investigative journalist...he's no fool. He knows he's put a stick into a hornet's nest; therefore,supporting him is really a very very Patriotic thing to do,IMO.

I applaud everyone who has taken the time to send their letter's to CBS/D.Rather... Well done!

[calimary]

83. No it would NOT hurt to send another one.

By all means! I think I've sent about 4 or 5 now, myself, since this whole thing started.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

11. You inspired me

to write an email in support of Dan Rather and CBS.

[dbt]

12. I want to praise Dan Rather and CBS, BUT...

where the HELL have they both been since the Boy King (literally) took office? CBS News has had plenty of opportunities to get to the truth about bu$h, but they seem to have passed them up every time.

With very little effort, CBS could have shown that Saddam Hussein posed absolutely NONE of the threats that bu$h cited in his State of The Union Address--yet they got in line behind the Chimp.

CBS could have run right to the end zone with the "Bush Knew" (911 attacks were coming) story, but they let it die after a day or two.

CBS could have gone ahead with the Reagan movie, but they caved to CONservative pressure.

Since Inauguration Day, the best thing one could say about CBS is that they were Least Among The Whores.

In 1974, Dan Rather was a freaking CHAMPION for the way he got into Nixxon's face at a press conference. It has been galling to watch him sit there in the bu$h years, drinking the Kool-Aid with the rest of the Pretty Whores.

While I applaud what looks like an awakening conscience at CBS and in Rather's makeup mirror, both entities are going to have to stay on this present course for, say, THREE YEARS before I buy what they're selling now!

:freak:
dbt

[jwirr]

31. Maybe just maybe

they were waiting to reveal these things until it would make a difference. I see all kinds of "impeach" articles - what good are they? Do you really think that a Repug run Congress will impeach it's own leader? If CBS had said some of these things three years ago do you think that same Congress would have cared? Would the people even remember them now when WE can do something about them?

The same goes for Kerry in his early campaigning. If he had let go with everything he had early on in this campaign the Repugs would have confused the issue so much that we wouldn't remember them. NOW closer to the election is when we need to set the record straight. NOW is what Americans with their short attention spans will remember on Nov. 2. Both Kerry and Dan Rather/CBS are choosing their battles and fighting them in a timely manner. Good going!!

[hippywife]

43. Maybe, just maybe

if one of the largest networks in America had spoke out loud and strong, there would have been more support for the anti-war movement and there wouldn't have been the 1000+ dead US soldiers, untold numbers of US wounded, untold number of Iraqi casualties.

Just because the Repub Congress was in control doesn't excuse the media from abrogating their responsibilities to keep the people who elect these buffoons informed.

[Kanary]

47. So, then, keep criticising Rather when he actually *reports something

helpful*, and we'll insure the networks CONTINUE on their RW bent.

:crazy:

Kanary

[hippywife]

58. I didn't say

I was criticizing Rather. I was responding to the post that said that maybe the networks were holding back until now. When there are lives on the line, it's always the right time to speak out and ask the hard questions that need to be answered by the people who need to be called to account.

[Kanary]

61. I understand. But this is now, and we need to not keep conceding

to the cons when it comes to supporting "good behavior".

I fully understand your anger. I don't see how I can *ever* "get over" how the media was complicit and therefore fully responsible for that DAMNED WAR. I'm feeling ever more strongly about it than I did Vietnam.

However, it's still important for Rather to hear our positive comments when he reports the truth. The RW is waaaay ahead of us on this.

Kanary

[SemperEadem]

53. I dont' think that would have been the case

The country, as a whole, was not ready to hear that or believe that. If it was, Bush would not have slithered into the oval office, began dismantling the middle class with tax cuts to the wealthiest, strip the citizens of their constitutional rights and pushed this country into this illegal war with the ease with which he did. Back then, he was successful in repressing the evidence to refute the facts upon which Bush based his justification for sending troops to invade and occupy Iraq; mainly because he was successful in demonizing the UN's efforts to locate the WMD's to the American public. Not only that, but Enron hadn't played out yet. Plame hadn't been outed. Evidence of Bush's blatant deviousness hadn't been discovered yet.

At first, no one was eager to criticize Bush because his myrmidons were at the ready to spring to his defence in the media. Until a lot of this evidence regarding Bush's behavior was dropped into the public's lap by Fahrenheit 9/11, they were not prepared to be disloyal to the pResident or to even put themselves out by doing research themselves--that much is clear when reading posts by freepers.

Bush offered the masses free, unlimited drinks from the fountain of fear, and as fear is the drug of choice of many americans living in a FOX induced stupor, anything which interfered with their right to be scared and to believe in a force outside of themselves to rescue them was villified and declared 'unpatriotic'.

Critical mass on this issue needed to be built up first before the tide would turn. We have finally reached that now.

[Kanary]

35. So write to praise the good things, and hold their feet to the fire later.

It's quite simple, really. There are only a few media outlets that are actually reporting the truth. Yes, you desere to have your anger, and I hope that you wrote angrily about those other things when they happened.

NOW, however, is the time to write in support of them reporting the truth.

If they screw up again later, then write critically about that.

We have to face the fact that we DON'T have any perfect media outlets at this time. ALL of them are going to periodically disappoint and even enrage us. Using that as an excuse to NOT support them when they DO report the truth is a sure way to lose it all.

Kanary

[Pallas180]

36. Well Said Kanary. All should remember that Dan Rather

gave an interview in England quite a while back, saying if he told
the truth he'd be "necklaced:.

From what I've heard "necklaced" means what they did in Africa to people, putting a burning rubber tire around the victim's neck to be burned to death.

When Rather now speaks out because he has absolute proof is an act of
bravery and heroism. Maybe he got sick of his bosses making him back down and seeing what is happening to this country.

We've got to counter-act all those vicious e mails he received from
"you-know-who" beginning with F and ending with R. ( Last time I wrote the name my post was removed) to show there is a following for
TRUTH and that they should keep it up.

I think putting something positive in the SUBJECT MATTER is probably
what got their attention to read my e mail rather than figuring it was another Fr--p-- attack.

[southlandshari]

68. Amen!

The media has a job to do, and so do we. If we choose to tune out completely, or refuse to recognize what little good work is being done in mainstream media these days, then I believe our complaints about what is still wrong with the press lose a lot of credibility.

Please do write or call when mainstream media gets it right. This is one of those times.

[K-W]

84. Such is life.

It takes time for these things to happen, it takes time for people to realize things, it takes time for the feeling fo discontent to build in people. Lets focus on the future.

[Killarney]

13. Just wrote him. Thanks.

[Vickers]

14. I just sent a letter of support, too

:thumbsup:

[Judi Lynn]

15. So glad to see this thread.

After reading your comments, I summoned my courage and gave it my best effort too, to write to Dan Rathers.

I hope the feedback might give him a sense of support he really can use.

They've all be fighting against an unnatural presence. Can you EVEN imagine Democrats behaving this way toward the press and the rest of the world?

I think we were all sucker-punched and intimidated to the point we didn't know what the heck to do or think about anything. We were not too sure what they WOULDN'T do, and knew they were already far, far more ruthless than anything we could have dreamed in our worst nightmares.

They are not good people. Maybe there's still hope for us all, and maybe, just maybe one day one of these stories is going to stick so hard they will NOT be able to laugh it off or change the subject, or destroy the messenger.

Whew!

[EndElectoral]

16. This email is a forgery...I see proportional spacing...done on a computer.

[wkirby]

32. excellent . . .

hahahahaha

-Will

[Pallas180]

38. WKIRBY see post #37 - same goes for you sweety -

:evilgrin:

[Pallas180]

37. EndElectoral - I'm an old timer here. People know I dont lie -best you try

your crap on someone else, sweety.

The e mail is an original copy. I'm sure you don't mind that I took off my e mail address so that the same nasty demented people who are
bombarding Dan Rather's e mail can;t do it to mine, now do you, Sweety?

[0007]

17. I also sent e-mail to Dan Rather's, thanking him for the

breath of fresh air in midst of a corrupt regime that has threatened our civil rights and is sucking the blood of America on a lie.

[Pallas180]

39. Wow. Terriffic 0007

:hi:

[calimary]

99. Kick AGAIN, dammit!

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

18. Done!

Thanks

[TryingToWarnYou]

19. One little suggestion... refrain from name calling "AWOL", cabal etc.

It makes your position weaker and guarantees that your email will be taken far less seriously than if you had made a strong, intelligent argument. Yes, I know you got a response, but we need to be better than the other guys when contacting the media. What if they were to do a story on DU? Would you want the very best to be shown or a bunch of partisan name calling?

Just a suggestion... your mileage may vary.

[napi21]

20. I agree. Mentioning anything that partisan makes it sound like a

rant. I've sent 3 ;etters so far. One to the CBS Evening News, one to CBS News, and a third to CBS general comments.

I think the point of Dan's report was to stress the lying and coverup this candidate has been doing for many years, which should be a valid item for a "Reporter" to expose. It sure thakes the high road over many others who focus on W's inability to pronounce words, falling off his bike, or Kerry windsurfing, etc.

[Pallas180]

49. UH - I think the freep hate mail Dan is receiving is slightly "partisan"

so I'm not worried about calling AWOL, AWOL :)

[TryingToWarnYou]

52. Yeah, but we shouldnt stoop to their level...

Just because they do it, we need to take the higher road. We know what to expect from them and we should just do the opposite to maintain our civility, composure, and maturity.

[Pallas180]

55. Thanks Trying. Let everybody do what they need to in their own

way and words.

Kerry has taken the high road, we all would like to; he American
people dont like the nasty but they admit that is what they remember.

Old saying is fight fire with fire.

Turning the other cheek, apparently gets you tacked up onto a tree.

[jdj]

63. The fact that Rather is being raked like this is partisan, and I

guarantee you that non-partisans WILL NOT write him e-mails.

My letter was worse, I called c.a.b.l.e. news 'crooked assine biased lying elephants'.

I already wrote once, this was just what came to mind tonight.

My shrink told me when I asked her about "turning the other cheek" that I only have two cheeks, after that it's ON.

[October]

21. Kick

Yesterday, I posted my response from CBS.

:kick:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2346490&mesg_id=2346490

[Kathy in Cambridge]

22. I just wrote

Dear Mr. Rather,

You are a hero for standing up for the truth. During the past four years, the media has given the Bush administration a pass and perpetuated the lies and distortions coming from the White House. As a result, the majority of the American people think we found WMDs in Iraq and that Iraq was responsible for 9-11.

Bush's AWOL status is an affront to those who served in Vietnam, and to those serving, dying, and coming back injured from Iraq. Thank you for exposing what the media should have been harping on during the 2000 election.

You seem to be the only news outlet doing honest reporting these days. I look forward to seeing more of this as the election approaches.

Regards,
XXXX XXXXXX

[Pallas180]

48. RATINAL ROSE - what a great letter - specially liked this part

"During the past four years, the media has given the Bush administration a pass and perpetuated the lies and distortions coming from the White House. As a result, the majority of the American people think we found WMDs in Iraq and that Iraq was responsible for 9-11.

Bush's AWOL status is an affront to those who served in Vietnam, and to those serving, dying, and coming back injured from Iraq. Thank you for exposing what the media should have been harping on during the 2000 election."

well said, well put...lady, you have talent! :)

:hi:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

23. Isn't Heroic going a little too far?

[Pallas180]

42. Yellow R Duckie - Heroic is right- See my post # 36 -Rather knew he'd be

attacked if not physically harmed for telling the truth. This bunch
rules by threats and fears and murder.

Did you read DU's front page, where the hooker who serviced W life's was threatened ?

[YellowRubberDuckie]

59. Yeah, but a hero is someone who....

...saves someone without regard for their own safety. Rather reported the truth about a story. Face it the man has been around forever, and I doubt they'd touch him. Besides, he's a journalist, and journalists are used to death threats. And please don't talk down to me like I'm an idiot. I just don't like that term thrown around.
Duckie

[saracat]

67. He is attempting to save the truth without regard for his own safety!

He has done so before and in case you forgot is also a war correspondent who has risked his life under fire many times including in Iraq.And for a 72 year old man that is something.It wasn't my post you replied to, but Dan Rather is heroic!

[YellowRubberDuckie]

69. God, now I remember what I don't come to GD...

[bpilgrim]

77. lounge lizard, eh?

if you don't recognize the role of a journalist specially a teeVee one as being CRITICAL to maintaining our democratic republic you sure are missing a LOT.

:hi:

peace

[Zan_of_Texas]

75. Anthrax? Forgotten already? Rather was one of a select few to whom

an anthrax envelope was addressed, way back in the days of anthrax letters.

[Kanary]

78. I forgot about that..... thanks for reminding us.....

Did you see the article about him that was posted today?

His comments brought tears..... A true patriot..... he's back..... at least for now....

Kanary

[thecrow]

25. Done!

[Pallas180]

62. Great

[arwalden]

26. That Was A Fine Letter To CBS!!

Nice work!

-- Allen

[batmankm]

27. Just wrote with support too

Think your letter was great! Made me want to send one too.

Dear Dan Rather

I grew up watching politics and news with my family. You were one of my parents greatest heros. When you stood up to Nixon and asked the tough questions you made my parents glad to be an American. They cheered they hooted and they began to feel there was hope. Hope that a tunnel of light had been opened by your questions your determination to seek the truth and inform the people.

Allot of time has past since then and allot has changed. In the world of news an incredible amount has changed. The corporate owner ship of news has created a vacuum of knowledge. The media has slowly become a mouth piece for the powerful and for the corporate elite.

I have been engrossed in this years election and have been down right terrified at how much the media has not challenged the status quo. I have been disgusted as i watched the media praise, support and prop up the Swift Boat lies. I became depressed, fatalistic and unable to watch any broadcast news. Where were the heros of the press, where were the tough questions where were the seekers of truth....we had been abandoned.

Then there was a crack. I glimmer of light and a beam of truth that rolled over me like a warm summer breeze. I took a deep breath opened my eyes and there stood a HERO from my past, a Journalist from another time, who had stepped back into the darkness to bring light, truth and reality to the people. There stood Dan Rather!!!!!

Bushs lies and hidden truths about his service in the guard are extremely relevant in establishing his credibility and his leadership. Further more it is imperative to present these issues in light of his campaigns efforts to tear down Kerrys heroic record with lies.

I can not tell you how much it means to have you back, on the case and standing up for the truth. You are a true Hero and i thank you. Like my parents before me you have made me glad to be an American and you have given me back the most sacred gift of all.........hope!


Thank you


KIRK MANLEY
STUDIOKM
www.studiokm.com
[e-mail]

[Sugarcoated]

29. Sent one as well

and glad to do it.

[calimary]

85. Hot Diggity-Dog - what a STELLAR letter!

I can not tell you how much it means to have you back, on the case and standing up for the truth. You are a true Hero and i thank you. Like my parents before me you have made me glad to be an American and you have given me back the most sacred gift of all.........hope!


More eloquence running rampant around here...

Shoot, Kirk - beautiful work! If I were Dan Rather and got a message like that, I'd pin it up on my office wall.

[msanthrope]

28. Sent one..hope he gets it. n/t

[Arugula Latte]

30. I thanked him. eom

[namvet73]

33. Excellent Post I wrote, also!

Thanks for posting this, Anna.

I have actually been meaning to write to them in appreciation for their courage, but this posting prompted me to write a very encouraging letter to Dan Rather and staff.

I had actually stopped watching evening news from all major networks because I did not trust any of them anymore, but after hearing about recent CBS changes, I started to tune in.

They need a flood of encouragement to keep it going. I'm sure the freepers hate it.

[medeak]

34. done!

wonderful message you sent...

[xxqqqzme]

40. sent a supportive

email on the 10th. Didn't even get an auto acknowledgement.

[Pallas180]

44. HI Guys. I think "DAN RATHER IS HEROIC" in subject matter got attention fr

their attention, to respond. So try letting them know something positive in the subject matter RE:_____ of the e mail.

They're getting freeped with hate mail so prolly are not reading a lot.

If they see something encouraging in the Subject matter, they're prolly reading.

go for things like:

Bravo Dan Rather

DAN Thanks for having guts

DAN You're A True American

DAN You're A Great Patriot

DAN I Could Kiss You

DAN GREAT WORK


in other words, anything positive in the heading that would get their
attention so they know its not another hate letter.

If CBS's producers see there's a positive following for DAN they may
give him more leeway.....

if evil wins, we could see Dan retiring I bet, replaced by a hand picked Rove clone.....

You guys have sent out some great letters....a lot of you have writing talent for sure.

Makes ya glad to be on DU doesn't it?

(((((lovin ya))))

Pallas

[batmankm]

50. I got a response back

It was the same as the response posted above. I think your right I too had "hero" in my subject and that probably got sifted out.

KM

[Pallas180]

51. thanks KM - so hero is the magic word. lol

:evilgrin:

:hi:

[calimary]

86. Well, I think if I were him the "Dan I could kiss you" would catch my eye.

That's a neat little number!

[nolabels]

45. Thanks for post,

Sent mine,
:kick:

[Maestro]

46. Just sent my letter -nt

[donkeyotay]

54. Thanks for this post - and all the great letters.

Dan Rather didn't have to do this, and I'm sure "they" are making him pay. I sent my thanks and encouragement.

[Pallas180]

56. great guys - keep it going - "[e-mail]"

[bear425]

57. letter sent - here it is...

Dear Mr. Rather,
I could not resist thanking you for restoring my faith in mainstream journalism. By reporting on the newly found memos that shed light on Mr. Bush's service record, you have acted both courageously and patriotically. I applaud you and hope that you will continue to defend your sources and story, despite pressure from others.

Sincerely,
(my real name here)

P.S. Feel free to expose more damning information at your earliest convenience.

[Pallas180]

60. media whores - Paula Zahn featuring freepers telling about bloggers

who say documents are false.

Like that's the authority for verification.

Email CBS - they're getting beaten up badly.

Meanwhile the National Guard typist says she didnt type that document
she typed another, but CBS documents essentially say what she typed
in another document.

So the story has focused on "typesetting" rather than the essence of
whether dumbson was AWOL and skipped his National Guard responsibility.

Rove strikes again. Change the subject and his talking point whores
have done just what he instructed.

[Hello_Kitty]

64. Here's mine.

Mr. Rather,

I am writing this to show my support for you and your network. You have shown rare fortitude and courage in the wake of what must be tremendous pressure to compromise, as have many of your colleagues. You are a rare breath of fresh air in a media choking with the stench of bias, laziness, and poor journalistic ethics. I had all but given up on mainstream news outlets, having tired of their endless pandering to the current administration coupled with their willingness to collude in the smearing of the opposition. I intend to watch CBS News and 60 Minutes, both of which are excellent programs, knowing that your network maintains its integrity.

I would also like to see you and your network address the issue of biased political reporting, particularly how egregious it has become in this current Presidential campaign. I really think the American people need to be made aware the extent to which they are being duped by partisan propaganda masquerading as news. Your experience with the National Guard memos perfectly illustrates how right wing campaign strategists are able to manipulate the news media in order to distract the nation from real issues.

Thank you for your outstanding work and your consideration.

Donna Gratehouse
Phoenix, AZ

[ConsAreLiars]

66. Here's mine

Thank you for pointing out the facts about the Bush record. From the time of the First amendment and the first visions of democracy, and even in our earliest human beginnings, freedom of information has been essential to our very survival, It is certainly true today. Thank you.

***name and address redacted***

(Oh, and by the way, do the hate-mailers usually bother to give their name and address? It is well known that many "freepers" establish numerous email accounts in order to exaggerate their importance.)

[LocalGuy]

70. Great idea--Here's my letter

Dear CBS Evening News Team:

I thank you for having the guts to take on this tough issue-- and not only for the political sensitivity of it, but for taking on the expected criticism as well. We have not seen a great deal of integrity in our country lately, not in the way our political leaders act, not in the way our business leaders conduct themselves, and sadly, not in the way many of our media outlets communicate to us. I truly appreciate the integrity CBS News has shown in covering these recent stories regarding Mr. Bush's National Guard duty. Your diligence in researching this issue clearly comes through in the reporting.

One of the things that keeps America strong is a free, unbiased media. It is not unpatriotic to question our leaders, it's one of the most patriotic things we do as a society.

Please keep setting high standards for everyone else in the media to chase. I will keep tuning in faithfully each night.

Thank you.
Matt Konopka
New Jersey

[Pallas180]

71. Great Letter MATT, guys keep those letters going to CBS if we

want to get at least one station telling truth.

Maybe we should write sponsors thanking them for supporting truth.

[calimary]

87. Welcome to DU, LocalGuy! Superb letter!

Equally excellent debut!

[RedEagle]

72. I doubt it's just the memos

With CBS acting like the only broadcast media with a spine, I'll wager the far right is afraid of what else they may have found.

Keep in mind that the opposition seeks to destroy the messenger, not the message.

Witness the focus on the authenticity of paper and ink, rather than the information contained.

If this kind of information had surfaced about the military records of Kerry, we can imagine all the clamor would be about the message and not if the documents were copies or recreations from witnesses.

[DebJ]

73. Thanks! Here's what I sent:

Dear Mr. Rather,

I am writing you for myself and for my husband, to say Thank You for having the courage to pursue what you feel is right. My husband is 54; I am 48, and BOY DO WE MISS THE OLD WATERGATE PRESS!!!

For our country to remain a democracy, we must have media that is free to search out the truth, and that does so aggressively. If Benjamin Franklin can see this country from the 'other side', he would be so proud of what you have done and are doing. You are such a source of light right now in these very, very dark media days. I'm sure most days Mr. Franklin is spinning in his grave, to quote Senator Byrd.

We are so sick of Talking Heads....we want the news, the stories, the facts...not all this opinion. I'll form my own opinions, thank you, based on the FACTS. I don't need some Talking Head's opinion, and I don't want it. (I've never included you in this group, Mr. Rather.)

We'd also like to see interviewers pursue the answers to the questions they ask....we are so nauseated by people dodging questions, and the interviewer never has the guts to pursue the question. Gutless, opinionated, slanted broadcasting....this is not what Mr. Franklin so rightly said was critical to democracy.

We love you Dan, and a large group of us here are rooting for you (we're all Deaniacs....so you know how intensely we feel about cleaning up the media!)

I think you are displaying genuine integrity, and it is this we admire above and beyond whatever the final validity of these documents turns out to be. We trust you, (at the moment, ha!) because of this integrity, and so much of America is aching for this right now!

Keep it up. Hold the line.

And we support the right for anonymity of your source. We heard a rumour Mr. Novak feels otherwise....and yet he would not reveal his source, when his revelations risked the life of a U.S. Agent......disgraceful, treasonous, that Novak.

Hope to see you for many more years!

Regards,
Deborah and Brad XXXXXXX
York, Pennsylvania

[Pallas180]

79. DEBJ - what a GREAT SUPERB letter..he'll luv it - can you

get your Dean group to send emails enmasse also ?

..we have to organize to support and lobby just as the opposing side does.....except we do it with a lot more intelligence and class.

What a great letter.

Thanks again.

Pallas

[Tennessee_tarheel]

74. we need the truth as well

And Rather & CBS have lowered their bar to the Weekly World News. The docs are fake, the interviews were clipped, the family ignored, the "experts" taken out of context. Rather is toast and we need to drop this item asap and move on to real issues and pray the Kerry is not tied to this pathetic event.

This makes FOX look downright objective.

[calimary]

88. NOTHING can make Pox look downright objective. At least until

they all get lobotomies...

[Name removed]

110. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

76. I feel so bad for him. Hope his career is not destroyed by this.

n/t

[NEDem]

82. Are you kidding? His career

will be best remembered for this. He's destroyed the credibility of the * WH.

[calimary]

80. I just sent 'em another one.

Dear CBS News AND Dan Rather -

I had pretty much given up hope that our "news" media would EVER hold the people in this White House accountable for ANYTHING, or try to look even a quarter-inch beyond the spin of the Karl Rove machine.

THANK YOU for restoring some of my faith! Too bad it's just you guys who've done so. Everyone else remains a shill for Bush. THANK YOU for standing firmly for prying answers out of this secretive, imperious individual who would be our commander-in-chief (STILL hasn't attended a SINGLE dead soldier's funeral..., or answered a SINGLE question about his background).

I want to know WHY he refused to take a physical. And I want to know WHY he refuses to come clean, to this very day. NO ONE else seems all that interested in asking the REAL - and MOST vital - questions that prompted your reports. I'm glad, and grateful, that you are.

[Only Me]

90. I sent him one too. n/t

[TankLV]

91. Done.

I sure hope he succeds.

[Pallas180]

92. Great - keep em going. We gotta let CBS know we're out here &

the world isn't made up of fundies and freepers

[Kenergy]

93. Done

I thanked him and told him I was a typewriter repairman
and that the doc's looked authentic to me.
Thanks for the e-mail link Pallas :-)

[lefty75]

94. wow

That's so cool that he wrote back! It doesn't seem like an automated message either.

[Crankie Avalon]

95. Here's my letter and the automatic reply they sent back:

"CND Evening News" <[e-mail]>
Sent by: (I deleted this person's address to protect her from lurking freepers)
09/15/2004 06:10 PM

Thank you for your comment and thanks for watching!

-----Original Message-----
From: (I deleted my address to protect myself from them)
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 8:01 AM
To: CND Evening News
Subject: Thanks, Dan Rather


Thank you to Mr. Dan Rather and to all of CBS News for the most recent reporting on President Bush's possibly being AWOL from his National Guard duties during the Vietnam era.

This American appreciates the information and hopes your organization will not allow itself to be intimidated by the shrill bellicosity of rightwing extremists who know their interests are not furthered by a free and independent media.

Well, to blazes with the interests of rightwing extremists; the interests and integrity of our nation are much more important and it's about time more of the American media stood up for them by doing their jobs and reporting all there is to report rather than mimicking FOX "News" in a desire to simply pander to those individuals who prefer to absorb Republican party infomercials rather than facts.

Regards,
Ben Zabava

______________________________________________________________________

Not much of a reply, but at least I know they got my message.

[Pallas180]

96. Good letter Ben - can you imagine how many bad they're getting ? when

I sent they wrote back that they were being inundated with negative
e mail, so every encouraging e mail we can get out...helps turn them to know that we're out here.

[Rockholm]

97. My Letter to Dan Rather & CBS.

Dear CBS News and Dan Rather:

THANK YOU !!! Thank you for standing up to the misinformation that is being presented to the American people on a daily basis from the White House and every level of government.

As I news junkie, it has been disturbing to watch the decline of journalistic integrity. Sound bites have replaced in-depth reporting, pretty faces have replaced content, on-air personalities have substituted reporting facts with reading jazzed up stories laced with opinion. Very sad and very dangerous.

Mr. Rather is one of the very few who reports real news. The list of true journalists is growing ever smaller. Please continue to supply us with the facts. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Thank you for your stand against the lies of the Bush administration.

Sincerely,

xxxxxxxxxxxx

[Pallas180]

101. Good Serious Letter ROCK, tells the truth.

[Rockholm]

102. Thanks Pallas!

BIG Fan of yours, here!

[Pallas180]

103. blushing - Thanks Rock.you guys are great-we all have passion & patriotism

for our country and our "peaceful" way of life and caring about
other people or we wouldnt be so riled.

Boy this is America. We are really the people.

[calimary]

98. Kick, dammit!

[Pallas180]

104. WE could call 1 (800) 839- 5276 TOLL FREE Capitol Hill & demand

of our senators and reps that Powell at the FCC ?

be fired for allowing the state of the media to be owned by six corporations limiting truth and allowing them to become propaganda
arms of the WH.

bastids.

That's also why Powell Sr caved in to them..they were making noises about the bad job his son was doing...inotherwords threatening his
son's job.

basdtids

meanwhile, we have no free press...just propaganda press and the congress should be told how angry we are.

it's monopolies

but the thugs have scuttled anti-trust law.

[Rockholm]

105. Maybe Rep. Cox (R-CA) could lead the charge?

He seems to have nothing better to do than harass Dan Rather & CBS. Go investigate that pal.

[Pallas180]

106. eek - a real rethuglican

Christopher Cox

[bdc9]

107. great idea. support those that support the truth...

done, thanks for the link.

[Cha]

108. Welcome to du, dbc!

I'm going to have to write my letter to Dan Rather and CBS, too!

Thanks, Pallas, for the activism and the links!

[Pallas180]

109. Thanks BDC. we need to let CBS know they have a following...something

is cookie with the polls coming out saying Bush is way ahead and
nobody was watching Dan RAther's interview on 60 minutes last nite.

Neither is possible.